People around Asheville go manic for this stuff but to me it tastes like a Target potpourri candle: saccharine in sweetness, overloaded with pungent "spices" and little or no true body. This beer is all hype and no substance.

Not much flavor . Brown ale with extracts poured into it. Could be done much better. Decent for a brown ale. overpriced. I try it once when it comes out to make sure its as equally disapointing as the year befores version...

Found on tap at Backstreets in Clemson, SC and took a case home as a Christmas present.
Poured a medium-dark brown; clear with plenty of red hints noticeable. Thin off-white head that left nice lacing.
Nose of vanilla, some roasted malts, raspberries, spices. Not a strong smelling beer but pleasant.
Tastes similar to the smell, but with great complexity and depth of flavor. Vanilla most prominently with hints of cocoa, hazelnut, raspberries over a solid malt backbone with some light hop bitterness and pine present towards the finish. Not overly spiced like some winter ales.
Mouthfeel is light and slightly oily with medium low carbonation. Definitely very drinkable; it would be easy to have a few of these.
Overall, this was definitely much better than I expected and it's become my favorite seasonal beer. Extremely drinkable with a much more subtle flavor than most over-spiced winter beers. Definitely try it at least once if it's available in your area.